Lin Anqiao originally intended to get up and have a look, but she was overcome by exhaustion. In her hazy state, she gradually drifted off to sleep.
As soon as Song Hanjiang stepped through the front door, Song Yu sprinted over and threw his arms around his long legs. "Uncle, you're finally back! Auntie Qiaoqiao was bullied by a mean man!"
Song Hanjiang’s brows furrowed instantly, and he quickly crouched down. "What mean man?"
Song Yu said indignantly, "He was a mean man about as tall as you, Uncle. He looked decent enough on the outside, but he pushed Auntie Qiaoqiao down." Thinking of Auntie Qiaoqiao, Song Yu felt a surge of worry.
Song Hanjiang quickly lifted his gaze to Sister Chen, who was busy cleaning. "What happened?"
"I don't know the specifics, but I heard the conversation between Miss Lin and that gentleman..." Sister Chen paused for a moment, then added slowly, "It might be Miss Lin’s ex-husband."
Ex-husband.
When those two words fell upon his ears, the man’s expression grew dark to the extreme. He stood up abruptly and looked around. "Where is Qiaoqiao?"
Sister Chen pointed toward the second floor. "She is in the room upstairs."
The man strode toward the second floor while Song Yu watched his retreating back, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
Song Hanjiang knocked on the door gently, but there was no response from within. After waiting at the door for several minutes, unable to set his mind at ease, he finally opened the door and walked in.
Lin Anqiao had not been sleeping deeply; she woke up instantly when she heard the sound of the bedside lamp being switched on. As soon as she lifted her eyes, she met a pair of exquisitely gentle phoenix eyes.
"Brother?" She called out softly, her voice exceptionally tender.
Seeing that she was awake, Song Hanjiang reached out to help her sit up, his expression one of worried scrutiny. "Did he lay a hand on you? Are you hurt anywhere?"
Seeing his expression, Lin Anqiao guessed that Song Yu and Sister Chen must have already told him everything. She had actually wanted to act as if it hadn’t happened; after all, there were no serious consequences. It was better not to make a mountain out of a molehill.
She shook her head gently. "He didn't lay a hand on me."
As soon as she finished speaking, a sigh of helplessness and tenderness escaped the man. "Qiaoqiao, you are not allowed to hide things from your brother."
When Lin Anqiao met his deep, shimmering phoenix eyes, her hand, which was resting on the quilt, suddenly faltered. So many years had passed, and he could still see through her thoughts with ease. There was truly no hiding anything from him.
"It was just a small friction. Although Fu Jingzhou is no saint, he wouldn’t strike a woman. I just didn't want you to worry; I can handle it myself." Lin Anqiao blinked, looking at him with a pitiful expression.
Hearing this, a flash of coldness crossed the depths of Song Hanjiang’s eyes, though his face remained as gentle as ever. He quickly pulled back the quilt and reached toward her clothes. "Let me see the extent of your injuries."
"It's nothing, it’s not serious..."
This sudden move made Lin Anqiao’s heart leap into her throat. On her waist was a deep surgical scar left over from an emergency cesarean section during a difficult labor. Even Fu Jingzhou had held that scar in contempt, let alone...
She quickly reached out to shield her abdomen. "Brother, don't..."
But there was, after all, a disparity in strength between men and women. With a gentle tug from Song Hanjiang, her hand was moved aside. She was wearing very thin clothing, and with a light lift, the area was revealed.
The cesarean section scar on her flat abdomen came clearly into view. At the same time, the faint red bruise on her stomach—where she had been struck—was deeply branded into the depths of the man’s gaze.
Song Hanjiang merely glanced at the surgical scar before fixing his eyes on the faint red mark. "Don't move."
His tone was flat, but Lin Anqiao instinctively obeyed, staying still as instructed. After checking and confirming it was merely a bruise, the coldness at the corners of his eyes dissipated slightly, and he let her go.
Seeing him stand up, Lin Anqiao asked curiously, "Brother, where are you going?"
"Wait here for me. I’m going to get some medicine."
Lin Anqiao had wanted to say it wasn't necessary, but Song Hanjiang had already risen and left quickly. Moments later, she heard his hurried footsteps pacing back and forth in the room next door.
Lin Anqiao suddenly felt a sting in her nose; her heart felt raw and bitter, an emotion difficult to suppress. In the past, she had poured all her heart and soul into Fu Jingzhou and his son, not realizing how much she had missed. If she could do it all over again, she would never choose to marry Fu Jingzhou.
"Lie flat. I’m going to apply the medicine." Song Hanjiang’s low voice interrupted her thoughts.
Lin Anqiao quickly looked up, meeting the man’s warm, gentle gaze. "Brother, I can do it myself."
"Be good. Lie down."
Lin Anqiao listened to his words and eventually laid back down. Song Hanjiang pulled her clothes up to expose her abdomen; when his gaze settled on the scar, a flicker of heartbreak appeared in his eyes. In the years he had been away, his precious one had suffered too many grievances.
Lin Anqiao watched as he dabbed a bit of medicine and applied it gently to her abdomen. His fingertips were slightly cool, and as they touched her skin, her body trembled ever so slightly. Lin Anqiao’s cheeks flushed a soft red.
"Did I hurt you?" Song Hanjiang looked up at her, his voice imbued with tenderness.
Lin Anqiao shook her head gently, only biting her lip, feeling a bit uneasy. She and her brother... seemed to be becoming overly intimate.
"As for Fu Jingzhou, don't you worry." The man glanced at her pale face, soothing her softly. "Brother won't let him bother you again."
Song Hanjiang narrowed his eyes. *Ex-husband.* His precious one was not to be touched by just any random man.
Lin Anqiao felt a warmth in her heart, but still shook her head. "Brother, I’ve grown up. I can handle my own affairs with him." She couldn't rely on her brother for everything.
Song Hanjiang watched her, then thought of the scar on her lower abdomen, his expression turning even gentler. Yet, in his heart, guilt began to sprout. During the years he was away, his sister had married, had a child, and grown into an adult. He had missed too much.
"In front of me, you can always be a child." The man’s tone was lingering and gentle, his deep eyes filled with indulgence.
Lin Anqiao’s heart began to race. She instinctively avoided his gaze and pulled her clothes down. "Thank you, Brother. It’s very late; you should go and rest."
Song Hanjiang tightened the cap on the ointment, then stood up and gently brushed her hair. "You too. Get some good rest tonight."
"Okay." Lin Anqiao nodded gently.